Original Research
Knowledge, attitude and practices on diabetes, hypertension and diabetic retinopathy and the factors that motivate screening for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in a pyramidal model of eye health care
AUTHORS
Sneha Lingam1 BSc, Student
Padmaja K Rani2 M.S FNB (retina), Ophthalmologist *
Sethu Sheeladevi3 PhD, Public Health Specialist
Vimala Kotapati4 BA, Field Investigator
Taraprasad Das5 FRCS, Vice Chair
AFFILIATIONS
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
2 International Center for Advancement of Rural Eye Care and Smt. Kanuri Santhamma Retina Vitreous Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Road No 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telengana, India
3, 4 International Center for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Road No 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telengana, India
5 Smt. Kanuri Santhamma Retina Vitreous Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Road No 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telengana, India
ACCEPTED: 11 July 2017
early abstract:
Aim: To report the results of KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) study related to Diabetes mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HTN), and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) of patient populations at different levels (Tertiary (T), Secondary (S) and Primary (P)) of a pyramidal model of eye health care.
Methods: A total of 202 participants, consisting of equal numbers of diabetic and non-diabetic patients at a Tertiary urban facility (T), a Secondary rural facility (S) and a Primary (P) community screening programs, were surveyed on their knowledge, knowledge sources, attitudes, practices, and factors that motivate use of eye health services.
Results: People with diabetes had a higher mean knowledge and attitude score about DM, HTN and DR (67.3% T, 59.4% S, 47.0% P) than non-diabetics (41.8% T, 29.0%S, 23.5%P; p<0.001). Awareness of DR was more 65.3% among diabetics compared to 22.0% among non-diabetics at all locations. Most participants in all locations were aware of hypertension (84.0% T, 65.3% S, 52.9%
P), but few knew it could affect the eyes (30.0% T, 12.2% S, 13.7%P) or be associated with diabetic complications (30.0%T, 32.7%S, 21.8%P). Many participants never previously had a dilated eye examination (2% T, 40% S, 50% P). Participants were
motivated to visit an eye facility for a routine checkup (70.6%), poor vision (22.6%), or a glucose/blood pressure test (17.7%) at Primary level facility and for follow-up or poor vision at the other facilities (28% and 42% Tertiary, 50% and 30% Secondary).
Conclusion: Practice-oriented education and advertising of facilities tailored for the relevant populations at each level of an eye health pyramid and continuation of fundus, glucose, and blood pressure screening programs can help in creating awareness about Diabetes, Hypertension and Diabetic retinopathy.